August 15, 2010

Scientists from Tohoku University and Tohoku Electric Power Co. have developed a technology to efficiently generate ethanol from seaweed such as sea tangle and sea grape, group members said Saturday.

The technology uses natural yeast discovered by the group as well as a new fermentation method, according to the group led by Minoru Sato, professor of marine biochemistry at Tohoku University.

The scientists mixed finely cut seaweed with enzymes and blended the substance to melt into a pulp before adding the natural yeast to ferment it. In two weeks, they succeeded in generating 200 milliliters of ethanol from 1 kg of seaweed.